Written Answers Monday 24 April 2006

Scottish Executive

Agriculture

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many farms there were in each of the last 10 years in (a) total and (b) each local authority area or designated geographical area.

Ross Finnie: The following table gives the number of holdings since 1995 in the areas that are now the unitary authorities. This includes main and minor holdings and sheep stock clubs (holdings of zero area).

  

 Unitary Authority
 1995
 1996
 1997
 1998
 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005


 Aberdeen City
 278
 274
 265
 262
 262
 258
 260
 261
 258
 260
 258


 Aberdeenshire
 6,984
 6,948
 6,810
 6,788
 6,798
 6,784
 6,810
 6,902
 6,944
 7,025
 7,044


 Angus
 1,357
 1,348
 1,332
 1,314
 1,295
 1,273
 1,279
 1,280
 1,283
 1,283
 1,284


 Argyll and Bute
 2,065
 2,015
 1,979
 1,940
 1,942
 1,929
 1,937
 1,962
 1,946
 1,921
 1,933


 Clackmannanshire
 152
 146
 138
 134
 136
 134
 134
 139
 138
 143
 146


 Dumfries and Galloway
 3,833
 3,817
 3,777
 3,759
 3,737
 3,737
 3,763
 3,829
 3,862
 3,921
 3,957


 Dundee City
 *
 *
 *
 *
 *
 *
 *
 *
 *
 *
 *


 East Ayrshire
 1,109
 1,098
 1,088
 1,093
 1,100
 1,092
 1,091
 1,095
 1,118
 1,137
 1,154


 East Dunbartonshire
 213
 217
 212
 212
 208
 203
 203
 203
 202
 198
 199


 East Lothian
 527
 518
 514
 510
 502
 506
 513
 517
 514
 513
 518


 East Renfrewshire
 191
 196
 196
 198
 194
 194
 194
 199
 198
 194
 195


 Edinburgh (City of)
 140
 140
 136
 135
 135
 129
 125
 126
 125
 127
 125


 Eilean Siar
 6,252
 6,280
 6,275
 6,266
 6,287
 6,271
 6,274
 6,298
 6,303
 6,329
 6,347


 Falkirk
 413
 410
 398
 395
 400
 396
 399
 397
 398
 406
 411


 Fife
 1,413
 1,405
 1,391
 1,386
 1,382
 1,371
 1,366
 1,372
 1,380
 1,394
 1,404


 Glasgow City
 *
 *
 *
 *
 *
 *
 *
 *
 *
 *
 *


 Highland
 9,909
 9,935
 9,875
 9,816
 9,841
 9,771
 9,799
 9,849
 9,889
 9,999
 10,063


 Inverclyde
 78
 79
 80
 81
 82
 81
 82
 85
 86
 87
 90


 Midlothian
 318
 323
 319
 325
 322
 318
 315
 316
 323
 324
 324


 Moray
 1,288
 1,293
 1,271
 1,261
 1,265
 1,250
 1,252
 1,272
 1,288
 1,302
 1,321


 North Ayrshire
 678
 674
 670
 666
 662
 662
 664
 668
 668
 674
 681


 North Lanarkshire
 562
 580
 579
 560
 555
 535
 538
 543
 541
 544
 551


 Orkney Islands
 1,992
 1,990
 1,969
 1,947
 1,913
 1,880
 1,884
 1,901
 1,906
 1,934
 1,959


 Perth and Kinross
 2,261
 2,282
 2,259
 2,261
 2,270
 2,253
 2,262
 2,295
 2,309
 2,319
 2,337


 Renfrewshire
 326
 334
 335
 330
 320
 312
 313
 319
 316
 321
 315


 Scottish Borders
 2,176
 2,171
 2,163
 2,161
 2,162
 2,176
 2,202
 2,233
 2,264
 2,310
 2,346


 Shetland Islands
 2,250
 2,219
 2,195
 2,136
 2,130
 2,077
 2,076
 2,065
 2,034
 1,990
 1,986


 South Ayrshire
 911
 909
 904
 895
 889
 898
 895
 904
 910
 915
 911


 South Lanarkshire
 1,570
 1,607
 1,612
 1,580
 1,585
 1,563
 1,578
 1,604
 1,613
 1,649
 1,670


 Stirling
 888
 899
 881
 885
 871
 855
 861
 866
 865
 883
 897


 West Dunbartonshire
 148
 148
 149
 145
 144
 142
 144
 144
 144
 145
 145


 West Lothian
 529
 530
 526
 522
 511
 512
 525
 520
 514
 525
 538


 Scotland
 50,843
 50,817
 50,328
 49,992
 49,929
 49,589
 49,764
 50,189
 50,365
 50,799
 51,136



  Notes: *Indicates data withheld to prevent disclosure of individual holdings.

Autism

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence-based explanation it can give for the significant rise in numbers of pupils with a diagnosis of autism, as revealed by the Scottish Schools Census.

Robert Brown: There is no evidence-based explanation for more pupils being recognised as having autistic spectrum disorder. However, the increase is likely to be due to a number of factors, which include increased awareness, better diagnosis and the application of wider diagnostic criteria or a combination of these.

Avian Influenza

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that proposals for the disposal of diseased poultry under the existing contingency plans for an avian flu outbreak are compatible with EU regulations.

Ross Finnie: Yes. The Executive is committed to keeping disposal policy under continual review, allowing early incorporation of any changes in regulatory requirements.

Avian Influenza

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered alternative means of disposing of poultry carcases other than those outlined in existing contingency plans for an avian flu outbreak and, if so, why these options were not included in the contingency plans.

Ross Finnie: The Executive has considered a wide range of methods of disposal. On the basis of veterinary, environmental and public health advice the preferred ones are set out in the Contingency Plan.

Community Care

John Swinburne (Central Scotland) (SSCUP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will take action to ensure that all local authorities offer an equal standard of meals for those people who are eligible to have meals delivered to their homes.

Lewis Macdonald: Scottish ministers have published National Care Standards for Care at Home which include specific standards on nutrition. These apply to all providers of care at home.

  The Care Commission, as national regulator of care services in Scotland, is required to take account of the National Care Standards in carrying out its regulatory functions and will expect service providers to demonstrate how they are meeting the standards.

Council Tax

John Swinburne (Central Scotland) (SSCUP): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it will take to provide Scottish pensioners with a £200 rebate on their council tax liability for 2006-07.

George Lyon: We have no plans to provide a £200 council tax rebate for Scottish pensioners in 2006-07.

Defence

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the statistics it holds indicate any reduction in deprivation levels in communities experiencing increased recruiting activity by representatives of the British armed forces.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive does not hold information on armed forces recruiting activity by community which would be required in order to provide the analysis requested.

Defence

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance ministers have issued to schools regarding the facilitation of recruitment and other visits by members of the British armed forces.

Peter Peacock: None. It is for local authorities and schools to consider how and by whom careers advice should be offered to pupils.

Drug Misuse

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children under 16 were known to be using cannabis in each year since 1999.

Hugh Henry: The Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey (SALSUS) provides national estimates of the proportion of young people aged 13 and 15, who report the use of cannabis in the previous year. The following table details the findings:

  

 
13-Year-Olds Total (%)
15 Year-Olds Total (%)


 2000
 9
 28


 2002
 10
 31


 2004
 10
 28

Drug Misuse

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it identifies cannabis use amongst children under 16.

Hugh Henry: The Executive’s primary source of information regarding cannabis use by under 16 year olds is the Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey (SALSUS). This is an Executive-funded national biannual self-report survey of 13 and 15-year-old pupils and includes questions on cannabis use.

Education

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the capital investment has been in schools in each of the last 10 years.

Peter Peacock: The following table gives details of local authority gross capital expenditure on schools for the financial years 1995-96 to 2004-05, compiled from local authority capital payment returns. The figures do not include Public Private Partnership projects, where the capital expenditure is incurred by the private sector partner, not the local authority.

  Schools – Total Gross Capital Expenditure (Including Payments Funded from Revenue)

  

 Year
£ Million


 1995-96
 121.160


 1996-97
 119.846


 1997-98
 120.799


 1998-99
 159.899


 1999-2000
 154.135


 2000-01
 146.103


 2001-02
 158.995


 2002-03
 166.678


 2003-04
 188.129


 2004-05
 204.996



  Source: As reported by authorities on Capital Payment Returns (CPR5).

  Notes:

  1. Includes nursery, primary, secondary and special schools

  2. Figures do not include expenditure on Public Private Partnership (PPP) schemes, where the capital expenditure is incurred by the private sector partner, not the local authority. Authorities make annual payments to their PPP partners over the contract period in respect of capital works, services and on-going maintenance.

Education

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase the robustness of the evaluation criteria used in anti-bullying strategies in schools.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive has commissioned a guide to good practice in school anti-bullying policies and strategies. This will be disseminated to schools in the summer of 2006 and will advise on approaches to self-evaluation of anti-bullying work within schools.

Education

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to recommend the introduction of counselling and peer support schemes in schools in the next 12 months.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive is preparing a good practice briefing for schools which will describe a range of approaches schools may take to promote positive mental and emotional well-being in schools. The briefing will describe case studies of successful counselling and peer support schemes in schools and will be disseminated by the summer of 2006.

  The two year national implementation project for the National Review of Guidance (Happy, Safe and Achieving their Potential – a Standard of Support in Scottish Schools, 2004) will also help education authorities and schools consider best practice in supporting pupils. This project finishes in 2008.

Education

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it has set for recruiting history teachers to schools in each year to 2010.

Peter Peacock: The recruitment of history teachers to schools is a matter for local authorities (LAs), depending on the curriculum needs of individual schools.

  The Scottish Executive carries out an annual teacher workforce planning exercise to ensure at a national level adequate numbers of newly qualified teachers are trained for when they are required in publicly funded schools. This takes into account factors such as the age profile of the profession; changing pupil numbers; numbers of new entrants to the profession and those leaving due to resignation, retirement etc.

  As part of the exercise subject specialisms are prioritised to make certain intakes to initial teacher education reflect the teachers needed. Factors which are considered in the prioritisation exercise include vacancy levels reported by LAs and the demand from LAs for probationer teachers in each sector/subject.

Fisheries

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of Scottish salmon farming production will be controlled by a single foreign-owned company following the proposed merger between Pan Fish and Marine Harvest, announced on 6 March 2006.

Rhona Brankin: Estimates based on data published in the Scottish Fish Farms Annual Production Survey 2004 suggest that the new company will control somewhere in the range of 40-50% of salmon production in Scotland.

Fisheries

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of Scottish salmon farming production is controlled by Scottish-owned companies.

Rhona Brankin: This information is not held centrally but the EU Salmon Producers Group (EUSPG) – who’s membership is made up entirely of Scottish owned businesses - estimate they control around 15% of Scottish salmon farming production.

Fisheries

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are directly employed on salmon farms.

Rhona Brankin: Latest figures, published in the Scottish Fish Farms Annual Production Survey 2004 show that 1,480 staff were employed in salmon and smolt production in Scotland in 2004. The 2005 Production Survey will be published later in year.

Fisheries

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to ensure that the proposed merger of Pan Fish and Marine Harvest will not lead to job losses and price increases for consumers of Scottish farmed salmon.

Rhona Brankin: Ministers have invited the company to meet and discuss their future plans for Scottish operations and how the public sector (including Highland and Islands Enterprise) might help to ensure continued success. The meeting is scheduled to take place next month.

Fisheries

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to prevent escapes from Scottish salmon farms, in light of Pan Fish’s stated aim of "lowest cost production" resulting from its proposed merger with Marine Harvest.

Rhona Brankin: Pan Fish’s stated aim of "lowest cost production" resulting from its proposed merger with Marine Harvest will still require its operations to comply with existing legislation with regard to the notification of suspected and actual escape incidents. Similarly, requirements specified by the authorities with regard to containment measures and contingency plans, which are designed to minimise escapes, should also be adhered to.

  These requirements are expected to be strengthened further by the proposed Aquaculture and Fisheries Bill due for introduction before the summer recess.

Food Standards

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what advice is given to local authority meal providers in respect of nut allergies.

Lewis Macdonald: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is the central competent authority for food safety and standards. Local authority environmental health services in Scotland are in a position to provide allergy advice to local authority meal providers. The FSA Scotland provides up to date advice to environmental health services on allergens, including nuts. This advice is in the form of update letters, training and guidance on the FSA website.

  The advice which is available to local authority meal providers includes examples of foods containing allergens, typical reactions and key messages in catering environments e.g. knowledge of ingredients, prevention of cross contamination and training.

  New hygiene regulations which came into force on 1 January 2006 require that all food businesses (including local authority meal providers) must implement and maintain food safety management procedures. Hazard analysis requires the operators to consider the hazards associated with food allergens, including nuts.

  A number of documents are available from the FSA to assist food businesses. The CookSafe document, most commonly used in Scotland, has a section specifically dedicated to allergy advice, including nuts.

  Hungry for Success, the Scottish Executive’s programme for the provision of healthy school meals advises that any food for nut allergy sufferers should be provided in accordance with diet plans prepared by a State Registered Dietician.

Health

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on the Practitioner Services Division’s magazine, Mouthpiece , since the magazine’s inception.

Lewis Macdonald: This is a matter for NHS National Services Scotland. This information is not held centrally.

Health

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-19912 by Mr Andy Kerr on 16 November 2005, how many incidences of tuberculosis there were in (a) 2004 and (b) 2005, broken down by NHS board area.

Mr Andy Kerr: The information requested is shown in the following table:

  

 
 2004*
 Incidence Rate per 100,000 Population in 2004⁪
 2005*
 Incidence Rate⁪


 Argyll and Clyde
 17
 4.1
 31
 N/A


 Ayrshire and Arran
 6
 1.6
 0
 N/A


 Fife
 16
 4.5
 12
 N/A


 Forth Valley
 5
 1.8
 4
 N/A


 Grampian
 23
 4.4
 25
 N/A


 Greater Glasgow
 173
 20.0
 155
 N/A


 Highland
 9
 4.3
 11
 N/A


 Lanarkshire
 35
 6.3
 23
 N/A


 Lothian
 82
 10.4
 81
 N/A


 Tayside
 16
 4.1
 4
 N/A


 All other NHS Boards†
 7
 2.2
 3
 N/A


 Total
 389
 7.7
 349
 N/A



  Notes:

  *Data for 2004 and 2005 are provisional.

  †To avoid deductive disclosure of cases from small numbers, data for NHS boards with few or no cases were aggregated.

  ⁪ Mid-2004 population estimates (General Registrar Scotland) were used to calculate incidence rate for 2004 cases. Mid-2005 population estimates are not yet available, therefore incidence rates could not be reliably determined for 2005 cases.

Health

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of tuberculosis there have been identified in educational establishments each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area.

Mr Andy Kerr: The information requested is not held centrally by local authority but is available by NHS board as shown in the following table:

  

 
 2000
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004*
 Total


 Argyll and Clyde
 7
 3
 3
 1
 0
 14


 Ayrshire and Arran
 0
 2
 0
 1
 1
 4


 Fife
 0
 0
 1
 1
 4
 6


 Grampian
 2
 5
 9
 3
 6
 25


 Greater Glasgow
 17
 16
 23
 18
 29
 103


 Lanarkshire
 0
 3
 8
 0
 4
 15


 Lothian
 4
 2
 4
 7
 12
 29


 Tayside
 2
 3
 0
 1
 2
 8


 All other NHS Boards†
 0
 1
 0
 2
 0
 3


 Total
 32
 35
 48
 34
 58
 207



  Notes:

  *Data for 2004 is provisional

  †To avoid deductive disclosure of cases from small numbers, data for NHS boards with few or no cases were aggregated.

Health

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prescriptions have been issued for (a) Ritalin, (b) Concerta and (c) Strattera in the last 12 months.

Lewis Macdonald: The following table shows the number of items and gross ingredient cost for atomoxetine (Strattera®), methylphenidate standard preparation (Ritalin®, Equasym® and the generic form of methylphenidate) and methylphenidate modified release (Concerta XL® and Equasym XL®) during the 12 months from February 2005 to January 2006. Data given refer to prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists and dispensing doctors, but do not take into account medicines dispensed by hospitals or hospital-based clinics. The cost given is that before addition of any pharmacy fees and deduction of any discount and patient charges.

  

 Approved Name
 Proprietary Name
 No. of Prescribed Items
 Gross Ingredient Cost (£)


 Atomoxetine
 Strattera
 3,268
 273,388


 Methylphenidate standard preparation
 Methylphenidate, Ritalin and Equasym
 18,695
 302,227


 Methylphenidate modified release
 Concerta XL and Equasym XL
 22,086
 1,148,097


 Total
 
 44,049
 1,723,712



  The information in the table has been provided by NHS National Services Scotland.

Housing

Frances Curran (West of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent by Communities Scotland on organising tenants’ meetings, either directly or through other organisations, in each year since its inception.

Johann Lamont: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  The following table details the money spent by Communities Scotland in each financial year since its inception in November 2001 on tenant meetings, events and conferences:

  

 Financial Year
£


 2001-02
 nil


 2002-03
 40,816.00


 2003-04
 51,785.00


 2004-05
 30,759.00


 2005-06
 35,391.00


 Total
 158,751.00

Immigration

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have migrated from Australia to Scotland in each year since 1997.

George Lyon: There is no regular source of information about migrants into Scotland from overseas which provides detail by source country. Some information is available from the 2001 Census: 2,366 people who lived in Scotland at the time of the 2001 Census stated that they had lived in Australia one year previously.

Language

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Department for Education and Skills regarding the funding of Language Network Scotland.

Allan Wilson: There were no such discussions prior to this question being lodged.

Language

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it will make to the Department for Education and Skills in respect of any reduction in funding for Language Network Scotland.

Allan Wilson: We have no plans to make representations to the Department for Education and Skills in respect of this matter.

Language

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the proven and potential benefits to Scottish businesses and the Scottish economy are of the work of Language Network Scotland.

Allan Wilson: The work of Language Network Scotland has not yet been evaluated. The Regional Language Networks project, of which Language Network Scotland is a part, will be evaluated during this financial year.

Language

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has carried out or commissioned into the benefits of the work of Language Network Scotland.

Allan Wilson: No research has been carried out or commissioned by us into the benefits of the work of Language Network Scotland.

Language

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that employees in Scottish businesses have the language skills necessary to remain competitive in the global marketplace.

Allan Wilson: The Enterprise Networks provide advice and support to all Scotland’s businesses, including advice on export. The Sector Skills Development Agency is funding the Language Skills Alliance, which will support employers in helping them to articulate demand for language skills that can be translated into appropriate education and training programmes for young people and adults. Languages will be integrated into skills planning and qualifications frameworks for a wide range of sectors of the economy. We are also committed to ensuring that all school students have the opportunity to learn a modern language, beginning no later than primary 6.

Language

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which of its departments is responsible for developing a framework for language skills for Scottish businesses.

Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive has no plans to develop a framework for language skills for Scottish businesses.

Language

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what resources it makes available to small and medium-sized enterprises to enhance the language skills of their employees.

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how small and medium-sized enterprises can access resources for enhancing the language skills of their employees.

Allan Wilson: Local Enterprise Companies can help small and medium-sized enterprises with their business needs, by directing them to relevant support.

Language

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it supports Language Network Scotland and how it will ensure that Language Network Scotland continues or is replaced by an adequate alternative.

Allan Wilson: As the Scottish Executive does not provide funding for Language Network Scotland, its support is limited to providing information and advice, when requested.

  We are aware that Language Network Scotland plans to request a meeting in the near future with the Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning Department to discuss its contribution to the department’s work and its future funding.

Language

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its strategy is for increasing modern foreign language skills within Scottish business.

Allan Wilson: A Smart Successful Scotland , Scotland’s Strategy for Enterprise, states that the Enterprise Networks should work with exporters to help them better penetrate existing markets, access new ones and develop their capacity to become more competitive suppliers to overseas markets. Both Enterprise Networks have put in place a variety of support measures to ensure that businesses know how to go about this.

Language

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a Skills for Business agenda which embraces modern foreign languages as a vital sector skill.

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether foreign language skills form part of the skills development element of the Skills for Business Network.

Allan Wilson: The Language Skills Alliance, funded by the Sector Skills Development Agency, is a new partnership which aims to ensure languages are considered in skills strategy developments across all sectors of employment. The partnership is made up of the Sector Skills Development Agency, GoSkills which is the lead Sector Skills Council for languages and CILT, the National Centre for Languages.

  The alliance will support employers in helping them to articulate demand for language skills that can be translated into appropriate education and training programmes for young people and adults. Languages will be integrated into skills planning and qualifications frameworks for a wide range of sectors of the economy.

Language

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the role of Language Network Scotland is and how this interfaces with the Executive’s policies in respect of education and lifelong learning.

Allan Wilson: Language Network Scotland states its role as "promoting a greater national capability in languages". This interfaces with school education, where we have guaranteed the opportunity to learn a modern European language starting in primary school, and with lifelong learning, where our colleges and universities continue to provide opportunities for students to develop their language skills. This includes innovations such as the University of Strathclyde’s Certificate in Applied Language Study, a new degree-level qualification which recognises professional competence in language at work.

Mental Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has in place for teaching professionals to enable them to deal effectively with incidents of deliberate self-harm among pupils.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive’s handbook on child protection in education, Safe and Well (2005), provides information on a range of issues concerning children’s care and welfare to guide the practice of teaching professionals. Safe and Well contains a section to help school staff recognise and respond effectively to pupils who self-harm.

Mental Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many incidents of deliberate self-harm by pupils under 16 were reported by teaching professionals in each year since 1999, broken down by (a) age and (b) local authority area.

Peter Peacock: This information is not held centrally.

Mental Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many drop-in centres are available for young people who deliberately self-harm, broken down by local authority area.

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were given counselling as a result of deliberate self-harming incidents in each year since 2000, broken down by NHS board or local authority area.

Lewis Macdonald: This information is not held centrally.

Mental Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what training exists for teaching professionals to enable them to identify pupils at risk of deliberate self-harm.

Peter Peacock: As part of their initial teacher training, student teachers are required to undertake a core module on health education which is designed to develop their understanding of health, health promotion and related issues. The module covering health education includes an introduction to the variety of counselling approaches and techniques designed to support pupils and children in dealing effectively with their emotional well-being.

  With regard to Continuing Professional Development, a number of organisations provide training on dealing with self-harm in young people for teaching professionals across Scotland.

  Other support is available to teaching professionals for example, The Scottish Executive’s handbook on child protection in education, Safe and Well (2005), provides information on a range of issues concerning children’s care and welfare to guide the practice of teaching professionals, including a section to help school staff recognise and respond effectively to pupils who self-harm. Happy, Safe and Achieving the Potential (2004), the report of the National Review of Guidance, gives a 10-point standard for personal support in Scottish schools, including effective co-ordination of support with other agencies and time to listen to children.

  In addition, The Scottish Health Promoting Schools Unit (SHPSU) works to increase awareness of the partnerships, networks and organisations at local level that can support schools in work around mental and emotional health in schools, including self harming.

  The website www.healthpromotingschools.co.uk is continually updated to provide information about resources and support (including training) and links widely to the organisations that specialise in particular issues.

Mental Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors the prevalence of deliberate self-harming incidents in Scotland.

Lewis Macdonald: NHS National Services Scotland gathers a range of statistical information on self harm within Primary Care and Hospital settings.

  The Practice Team Information dataset provides details on GP, Practice Nurse and other Primary care contacts and accident and emergency and hospital admission information is also collected.

  Work is in hand to improve and extend the information gathered in accident and emergency which will also capture data on self harm presentations.

Mental Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many self-harming incidents there have been involving (a) cutting, (b) burning and (c) banging amongst people under 18 in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board area.

Lewis Macdonald: Number of Continuous In-patient Stays (CIS) involving an admission for deliberate self harm due to burning or cutting in children under 18 years, by NHS board of residence; year ending 31 December 1999-2004.

  

 Injury
 NHS Board of Residence
 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004


 Burning
 Scotland
 -
 2
 2
 -
 -
 -


 
 Fife
 -
 1
 -
 -
 -
 -


 
 Lothian
 -
 1
 2
 -
 -
 -


 Cutting
 Scotland
 59
 42
 39
 68
 53
 50


 
 Argyll and Clyde
 6
 5
 2
 4
 3
 3


 
 Ayrshire and Arran
 8
 1
 4
 7
 6
 7


 
 Borders
 -
 -
 -
 1
 1
 -


 
 Dumfries and Galloway
 1
 -
 -
 -
 2
 1


 
 Fife
 4
 1
 1
 1
 6
 4


 
 Forth Valley
 2
 1
 1
 -
 -
 -


 
 Grampian
 4
 4
 2
 8
 3
 12


 
 Greater Glasgow
 10
 4
 3
 2
 8
 3


 
 Highland
 7
 4
 4
 11
 6
 5


 
 Lanarkshire
 3
 -
 1
 2
 2
 4


 
 Lothian
 14
 15
 17
 30
 14
 9


 
 Shetland
 -
 1
 -
 -
 -
 -


 
 Tayside
 -
 6
 4
 2
 2
 2


 
 Other
 -
 1
 1
 -
 -
 1

Mental Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what conclusions have been reached regarding the factors that place young people at risk from self-harm and what research it has undertaken to support these conclusions.

Lewis Macdonald: The recent National Inquiry into Self-Harm Among Young People, Truth Hurts ( www.selfharmuk.org ) drew together findings from a number of studies to highlight many reasons why young people self-harm. The two-year inquiry was jointly run by The Camelot Foundation and The Mental Health Foundation and took evidence from Executive officials.

  With funding from the Executive, a study is currently exploring the links between self harm and suicide in young people.

Mental Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it routinely records instances of deliberate self-harm across Scotland and what the reasons are for its position on the matter.

Lewis Macdonald: NHS National Services Scotland publishes a range of statistical information on self harm. This is available on www.show.scot.nhs.uk/nss/ . The dataset informs agencies and others in the design of services and responses to care need, and work is in hand to improve and extend the information gathered in accident and emergency.

Mental Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it plans to issue to health and education authorities in respect of the rights of young people who disclose their self-harm to education, health and social care professionals.

Lewis Macdonald: Safe and Well guidance on child protection in school (2005) already includes a section on responding effectively and sensitively to pupils who self-harm and there are no plans to issue further guidance to education professionals.

  In addition, the sharing of information between professionals and multi-agency planning to support children is promoted within Happy, Safe and Achieving their Potential – ten standards of support in Scottish schools (2005). All guidance relating to children’s services within all professional groups reflects this message, and there are no plans to issue further guidance.

Mental Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for robust evaluation of all types of interventions and treatments for young people found to be deliberately self-harming.

Lewis Macdonald: As at January 2006, there were approximately 50 part- or fully-funded Choose Life initiatives across Scotland where tackling self-harm was identified as a key aim of local Choose Life action plans. All these initiatives are required to indicate how, and by when, they will measure success in reaching and impacting on their target groups.

Mental Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children under 16 were prescribed anti-depressants in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board area.

Lewis Macdonald: Prescription data collected centrally do not relate to the number of patients receiving treatment but to the numbers and cost of prescribed items dispensed in the community by community pharmacists and dispensing doctors.

  These data cannot be used as a proxy for the number of patients receiving treatment with any particular drug.

Mental Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children under 16 were treated for depression in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board area.

Lewis Macdonald: The exact number of children under 16 diagnosed with depression in Scotland in each year since 1999 is not available centrally. However, national estimates of the numbers of children consulting for depression can be given based on the number of patients seen for the condition in general practices participating in PTI (Practice Team Information). PTI data is obtained from a sample of Scottish General Practices. This sample has a pattern of age, sex, deprivation and urban/rural distribution that closely matches that of the Scottish general practice population. The number of participating practices is too small to allow estimates for individual NHS board areas.

  The estimated number of children under 16 seen in general practices in Scotland for depression, based on PTI data (GP only) and standardised by sex and deprivation, is shown in the following table:

  Estimated Scottish prevalence of depression in children under 16, by year:

  

 Calendar Year
 Estimated Number of Scottish Children (under 16)


 1999
 2,550


 2000
 2,350


 2001
 2,350


 2002
 2,750


 2003
 2,700



  Source: ISD Scotland.

  Note: estimates are rounded to the nearest 50.

Mental Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children under 16 were diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board area.

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent on mental health services and treatments for children under 16 in each year since 1999.

Lewis Macdonald: This information is not held centrally.

Mental Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has undertaken into the factors influencing doctors’ prescribing behaviour in relation to psychiatric drugs.

Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-24513 on 19 April 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

National Health Service

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the NHS drugs budget was used for drugs in (a) 2002, (b) 2003, (c) 2004 and (d) 2005, broken down by NHS board area.

Mr Andy Kerr: NHS boards do not receive a specific budget for drugs. NHS boards receive an annual allocation. It is for each NHS board to utilise the funds available to meet the health care needs of its resident population, including the cost of drugs, taking account of national and local priorities.

National Health Service

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total (a) projected and (b) actual expenditure was on medicines in (i) 2002, (ii) 2003, (iii) 2004 and (iv) 2005, broken down by NHS board area.

Mr Andy Kerr: No specific allocation is made to NHS boards for expenditure on medicines. NHS boards meet the cost of medicines from their annual unified budget. Information on the projected expenditure by each NHS board on medicines is not held centrally. The actual expenditure on hospital, community and Family Health Services drugs by each NHS board is as follows:

  

 NHS Board
Actual Drugs Expenditure 
2001-02 (£ million)
Actual Drugs Expenditure 
2002-03 (£ million)
Actual Drugs Expenditure 
2003-04 (£ million)
Actual Drugs Expenditure 
2004-05 (£ million)


 Argyll and Clyde
 71.880
 80.286
 88.097
 90.203


 Ayrshire and Arran
 64.476
 72.762
 78.067
 82.017


 Borders
 14.527
 16.578
 14.493
 18.886


 Dumfries and Galloway
 26.610
 29.523
 32.202
 34.259


 Fife
 56.782
 63.391
 70.942
 72.772


 Forth Valley
 47.453
 53.461
 57.450
 59.062


 Grampian
 77.755
 86.342
 92.730
 99.041


 Greater Glasgow
 175.751
 201.946
 218.056
 224.805


 Highland
 32.665
 35.665
 38.660
 43.253


 Lanarkshire
 97.018
 107.275
 119.974
 121.902


 Lothian
 120.809
 143.590
 154.252
 163.790


 Orkney
 2.422
 2.796
 3.025
 3.274


 Shetland
 3.056
 3.335
 3.489
 2.830


 Tayside
 70.528
 78.899
 83.618
 87.753


 Western Isles
 4.738
 5.161
 5.275
 5.795


 State Hospital
 0.547
 0.557
 0.601
 0.611


 Golden Jubilee
 -
 -
 0.553
 0.651


 Total
 867.017
 981.567
 1,061.484
 1,110.904

National Health Service

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to ensure that funds allocated for expenditure on medicines are used for this purpose.

Mr Andy Kerr: No specific allocation is made to NHS boards for expenditure on medicines. Each NHS board is given an annual allocation of funds to meet the health care needs of its resident population, including the cost of medicines, taking account of national and local priorities. It is for each NHS board to ensure measures are in place to ensure that funds allocated for medicines are used for this purpose.

National Health Service

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) discussions it has had with NHS boards and (b) representations it has received in respect of ensuring that funds allocated for expenditure on medicines are used for this purpose.

Mr Andy Kerr: There have been no discussions with or representations from NHS boards regarding this. No specific funds are allocated for expenditure on medicines. NHS boards receive an annual allocation. It is for each NHS board to utilise the funds available to meet the health care needs of its resident population, including the cost of medicines, taking account of national and local priorities.

National Health Service

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that funds allocated for expenditure on medicines are ring-fenced for this purpose.

Mr Andy Kerr: No specific allocation is made to NHS boards for expenditure on medicines. Each NHS board is given an annual allocation of funds to meet the health care needs of its resident population, including the cost of medicines, taking account of national and local priorities. There are no plans to ring-fence funds for expenditure on medicines.

Older People

John Swinburne (Central Scotland) (SSCUP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the current guidelines on the nutritional content of meals offered to elderly people within the care of local authorities to ensure that they receive adequate nutritional value from their food.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive has no plans to review the existing National Care Standards for Care Homes for Older People, Care at Home and Support Services.

Older People

John Swinburne (Central Scotland) (SSCUP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will set a minimum amount of £2.10 per meal for local authorities to spend on elderly people within their care.

Lewis Macdonald: No. It is up to local authorities to achieve an appropriate balance between quality and cost in providing meals to elderly people within their care, whilst also meeting the requirements of the relevant National Care Standards.

Older People

John Swinburne (Central Scotland) (SSCUP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that the diet of elderly people within the care of local authorities contains adequate quantities of fresh fruit and vegetables.

Lewis Macdonald: The National Care Standards published by Scottish ministers already include specific standards on nutrition.

Older People

John Swinburne (Central Scotland) (SSCUP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that elderly people within the care of local authorities are not socially isolated as a result of a reduction in the number of meals-on-wheels services they receive each week.

Lewis Macdonald: This is a matter for local authorities, which have a duty under section 12A of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 to assess the needs of people and decide, in the light of the assessment, which services should be provided and how. With their detailed knowledge of local circumstances and experience, they are best placed to commission and secure services which meet people’s needs.

Parliamentary Questions

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will provide a substantive answer to parliamentary question S2W-23443 which received a holding reply on 9 March 2006.

Nicol Stephen: I replied to question S2W-23443 on 6 April 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Population

Mr Jim Wallace (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the projected percentage increase is for the population aged 65 and over in (a) Scotland and (b) each local authority area between (i) 2004 and 2010 and (ii) 2004 and 2014.

George Lyon: The projected percentage changes in the population aged 65 and over for Scotland and for each local authority area for 2004-10 and 2004-14 are shown in the following table:

  

 
 2004-10
 2004-14


 Scotland
 7.0
 17.4


 Aberdeen City
 0.6
 8.3


 Aberdeenshire
 18.7
 39.8


 Angus
 12.6
 27.0


 Argyll and Bute
 10.7
 22.2


 Clackmannanshire
 14.6
 31.3


 Dumfries and Galloway
 13.9
 26.8


 Dundee City
 -2.0
 2.0


 East Ayrshire
 7.9
 18.8


 East Dunbartonshire
 10.4
 21.0


 East Lothian
 9.2
 20.1


 East Renfrewshire
 9.9
 21.7


 Edinburgh, City of
 -0.1
 6.9


 Eilean Siar
 5.0
 14.4


 Falkirk
 8.3
 19.4


 Fife
 10.5
 23.9


 Glasgow City
 -8.9
 -9.1


 Highland
 14.5
 29.4


 Inverclyde
 1.8
 8.9


 Midlothian
 7.4
 19.8


 Moray
 11.7
 23.8


 North Ayrshire
 12.1
 25.5


 North Lanarkshire
 8.7
 18.9


 Orkney Islands
 18.7
 33.8


 Perth and Kinross
 11.4
 24.8


 Renfrewshire
 5.7
 14.3


 Scottish Borders
 12.5
 27.0


 Shetland Islands
 19.0
 34.6


 South Ayrshire
 8.7
 18.9


 South Lanarkshire
 9.9
 20.5


 Stirling
 9.6
 22.2


 West Dunbartonshire
 0.0
 7.7


 West Lothian
 18.9
 38.2

Rail Network

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-23924 by Tavish Scott on 16 March 2006, what benefits it considers may be derived by an Allandale railway station with park and ride facilities.

Tavish Scott: The Allandale Park and Ride site was proposed in the Central Scotland Transport Corridor Study to provide some alternative for road traffic using the A80/M80 corridor into Glasgow, and was part of a package of measures aimed at limiting the need for additional road capacity.

  The present study has evaluated that option in greater detail, and also considered more recent ideas to develop an additional or alternative park and ride site at Bannockburn.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more information if required.

Rendition Flights

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers it to be in the public interest that a definitive view should be established in respect of the legality of the process of "extraordinary rendition" in both Scots law and international law.

Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive has made clear in previous answers that it has not approved and will not approve a policy of facilitating the transfer of individuals through Scottish territory or airspace to places where there are substantial grounds to believe they would face a real risk of torture. Any allegations of criminal acts made to the police will be considered on their own facts and circumstances. If the police refer a case to the Procurator Fiscal and criminal proceedings are brought, it will be for the courts to determine whether an offence has been committed in each individual case.

Renewable Energy

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all (a) operational onshore wind farms and (b) consents granted for onshore wind farm planning applications in Scotland, giving in each case the (i) number of wind turbines, (ii) capacity and (iii) location.

Allan Wilson: This information is not held centrally. While no power station with an installed capacity in excess of 50MW can be built, operated or extended without consent from the Scottish ministers under s.36 of the Electricity Act 1989, all other cases are considered by local planning authorities. As a result the following data has been obtained from a number of sources:

  In Operation

  

 Name
 Location
 No. of Turbines
 Capacity


 Hagshaw Hill 
 South Lanarkshire 
 26
 15.6


 Windy Standard 
 Dumfries and Galloway 
 36
 21.6


 Novar 
 Easter Ross, Highland 
 34
 17


 Beinn Ghlas 
 Taynuilt, Argyll and Bute 
 14
 8.4


 Thorfinn 
 Burgar Hill, Orkney Islands 
 1
 1.5


 Dun Law 
 Scottish Borders 
 26
 17.16


 Sigurd 
 Orkney Islands 
 1
 1.3


 Hare Hill 
 Cumnock, East Ayrshire 
 20
 13


 Burra Dale 
 Shetland Islands 
 3
 1.98


 Sainsbury
 East Kilbride, S Lanarkshire 
 1
 0.6


 Deucheran Hill 
 Kintyre, Argyll and Bute 
 9
 15


 Myres Hill 
 Eaglesham, East Renfrewshire 
 2
 1.9


 Beinn an Tuirc 
 Kintyre, Argyll and Bute 
 46
 30


 Bu Farm 
 Stronsey, Orkney Islands 
 3
 2.7


 Thorfinn, Burgar Hill 
 Orkney Islands 
 1
 2.75


 Bowbeat 
 Innerleithen, Scottish Borders 
 24
 31.2


 Tangy 
 Kintyre, Argyll and Bute 
 15
 12.75


 Burra Dale Extension 
 Shetland Islands 
 2
 1.7


 Forss
 Caithness, Highland 
 2
 2.32


 Ardrossan 
 North Ayrshire 
 12
 24


 Crystal Rig 
 Scottish Borders, East Lothian 
 20
 62.5


 Cruach Mhor 
 Cowal, Argyll and Bute 
 35
 29.75


 Causeymire 
 Caithness, Highland 
 21
 48


 Gigha (Community) 
 Argyll and Bute
 3
 0.675


 Spurness 
 Sanday, Orkney Islands 
 4
 11


 Burray 
 Orkney Islands 
 1
 0.85


 Rothes (Cairn Uish) 
 Moray 
 22
 50.6


 Artfield Fell 
 New Luce, Dumfries and Galloway 
 15
 19.5


 Glens of Foudland 
 Aberdeenshire 
 20
 26


 Black Law 
 S Lanarkshire, N Lanarkshire, W Lothian 
 42
 97


 Boulfruich
 Caithness, Highland
 15
 13


 Hadyard Hill 
 Barr, South Ayrshire
 52
 120



  Under Construction

  

 Name
 Location
 No. of Turbines
 Capacity


 Braes O’ Doune 
 Stirling 
 36
 72


 Paul’s Hill 
 Moray 
 28
 65


 Beinn Tharsuinn 
 Easter Ross, Highland 
 17
 30


 Boyndie Airfield 
 Aberdeenshire 
 10
 20


 Wardlaw Wood 
 North Ayrshire 
 6
 18


 Farr 
 Tomatin, Highland 
 40
 92


 Black Law "B" 
 S Lanarkshire, N Lanarkshire, W Lothian 
 12
 27.6


 Black Hill 
 Longformacus, Scottish Borders 
 22
 28.6


 Clachan Flats 
 Cairndow, Argyll and Bute 
 9
 15.75


 Tangy Extension 
 Kintyre, Argyll and Bute 
 7
 5.95


 Earlsburn 
 Stirling 
 14
 32


 Michelin Tyre Factory 
 Dundee City 
 2
 4


 Fintry (Community) 
 Stirling 
 1
 2


 Balnamoon (Community)
 Keith, Aberdeenshire
 1
 0.85



  Consented

  

 Name
 Location
 No. of Turbines
 Capacity


 Wether Hill 
 Dumfries and Galloway 
 14
 18


 Arnish Moor 
 Western Isles 
 3
 3.9


 An Suidhe 
 Argyll and Bute 
 24
 30


 Torrs Hill 
 Forrest Estate, Dumfries and Galloway 
 2
 4


 Over Enoch and Ardoch 
 East Renfrewshire 
 5
 6.5


 Tullo
 Mearns, Aberdeenshire 
 8
 12


 Mid Hill
 Deeside, Aberdeenshire 
 25
 50


 Arnish Moor II 
 Western Isles 
 6
 12


Pentland Road(incorporating Beinn Mholach 
 Western Isles 
 6
 12


 Dalswinton, Pennyland Moor 
 Dumfries and Galloway 
 16
 36


 Drummuir 
 Moray 
 21
 48


 Findhorn Foundation 
 Moray 
 3
 0.9


 Millennium (Glenmoriston) 
 Highland 
 16
 48


 Novar Extension 
 Easter Ross, Highland 
 16
 32


 Minsca Farm 
 Dumfries and Galloway 
 17
 42.5


 Crystal Rig Phase 2 
 Scottish Borders, East Lothian 
 52
 164


 Ben Aketil 
 Skye, Highland 
 10
 15


 Causeymire Extension 
 Caithness, Highland 
 3
 6.7


 Beinn an Tuirc Extension 
 Kintyre, Argyll and Bute 
 19
 38


 Hagshaw Hill Extension 
 North Lanarkshire 
 20
 26


 Dun Law Extension 
 Scottish Borders 
 35
 30


 Craig
 Westerkirk, Dumfries and Galloway
 3
 5



  Further information on those developments submitted for consent under the Electricity Act 1989 is in the Executive website:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/infrastructure/19185/19102.

Roads

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what effect the delay in publishing the Route Action Plan for the A82 is having on on-going maintenance work on the section of the road between Tarbet and Ardlui.

Tavish Scott: The publication of the Route Action Plan will have no impact on the on-going maintenance works on the section of the A82 between Tarbet and Ardlui.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more information if required.

Roads

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to ensure that on-going maintenance work on the section of the A82 between Tarbet and Ardlui is carried out in accordance with the contractual obligations covering such maintenance work.

Tavish Scott: ScotlandTranServ took over the trunk road term maintenance contract for the A82 and other trunk routes in the North West Unit on 1 April 2006 and their contractual duties will be managed and monitored by staff within Transport Scotland with assistance from the independent Performance Audit Group.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more information if required.

Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive where funds confiscated by the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency since its inception have been allocated.

Hugh Henry: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-24644 on 11 April 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Solicitor General for Scotland

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it was aware of the current Solicitor General for Scotland’s party political affiliation when she was appointed to the post and, if so, what account was taken of it.

Cathy Jamieson: The Scotland Act 1998 provides at Section 48(1) for the appointment of the Lord Advocate and the Solicitor General, with the approval of Parliament. I refer to the motion of the First Minister for the appointment for the current Solicitor General (col. 4217-4219, 28 November 2001).

Taxation

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what it estimates the costs would be of making use of the tax-varying powers of the Scottish Parliament to raise income tax by (a) one, (b) two and (c) three pence in the pound, and on what such costs would be incurred.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Executive has made it clear that it does not intend to use the tax-varying powers in the course of the current Parliament.

  We do not make separate estimates of the likely revenue, costs of collection and economic impact of using the tax-varying powers of the Scottish Parliament.

  Such forecasting involves detailed modelling and would carry significant cost. It would also rapidly become out of date. There is no advantage in doing this work while use of the powers has been ruled out.

Taxation

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what it estimates the costs would be of making use of the tax-varying powers of the Scottish Parliament to reduce income tax by (a) one, (b) two and (c) three pence in the pound, and on what such costs would be incurred.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Executive has made it clear that it does not intend to use the tax-varying powers in the course of the current Parliament.

  We do not make separate estimates of the likely revenue, costs of collection and economic impact of using the tax-varying powers of the Scottish Parliament.

  Such forecasting involves detailed modelling and would carry significant cost. It would also rapidly become out of date. There is no advantage in doing this work while use of the powers has been ruled out.

Taxation

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give an estimate of the impact on net revenue of using the tax-varying powers of the Scottish Parliament to (a) reduce and (b) increase income tax by (i) one pence, (ii) two pence and (iii) three pence in the pound.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Executive has made it clear that it does not intend to use the tax-varying powers in the course of the current Parliament.

  We do not make separate estimates of the likely revenue, costs of collection and economic impact of using the tax-varying powers of the Scottish Parliament.

  Such forecasting involves detailed modelling and would carry significant cost. It would also rapidly become out of date. There is no advantage in doing this work while use of the powers has been ruled out.

Vaccinations

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W 23269 by Mr Andy Kerr on 16 February 2006, whether it is its understanding that the Chief Medical Officer was referring to thousands of (a) live virus vaccines or (b) attenuated vaccines and that he was suggesting that it is safe to administer to a child thousands of vaccines containing the mercury preservative thiomersal.

Mr Andy Kerr: Whether the vaccines are live or inactivated is not specified by the authors of the paper referred to in my previous answer. The administration of 10,000 vaccines at the same time is a theoretical concept to illustrate the capacity of an infant’s immune system, rather than something that is actually going to be done.

  None of the vaccines in the routine childhood immunisation programme now contains thiomersal.

Water Services

Murray Tosh (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much income Scottish Water expects to receive from infrastructure and connection charges on new development under the Provision of Water and Sewerage Services (Reasonable Cost) (Scotland) Regulations 2006; for what purposes this income will be used, and what criteria will be applied in allocating this income where it is used to fund infrastructure.

Rhona Brankin: It is not possible to estimate the income Scottish Water will receive from infrastructure charges payable for every new water or sewerage connection to its networks as this will depend on the total number of new connections made in any year. However, for the purposes of the Final Determination, the Water Industry Commission for Scotland predicted a figure of £30 million based on the estimated number of new housing units to be provided by Scottish Water up to March 2010.

  The funds Scottish Water raises from this charge will be used to help address demands on capacity that cannot be attributed to particular developments. Further information on the purposes and criteria to be used in applying this income were set out in the Scottish Executive Consultation Paper Connecting To The System – consultation on paying for connections to the water and sewerage system, and in the Scottish Executive report on that consultation Connecting To The System – consultation on paying for connections to the water and sewerage system: Consultation Report. Copies of these documents have been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. numbers 37568 and 39416).